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Dinisha2024 Asked March 19, 2024

Should I call my mother’s primary care physician to get a referral to a new neurologist?

So my mother who is only 54 has been experiencing behavior that has not been normal for about the end of 2023 just small things at first and I told her she needs to see a doctor. She was referred to a Neurologist and had a MRI in November. They sent the results to her app but they never called her in to tell her the Results. Her cognitive skills have been getting worse and the Neurologist I was told got a New Nurse Practitioner and she is still waiting to be setup to receive Tricare which is my mom’s insurance and her appointment is not scheduled until June 24, 2024. That is a long time to wait and keep waiting. I called the office of the Neurologist and told them the situation. What should I do because from November 2023 to June 2024 that is almost 7 months and she could have been diagnosed during that time.

AlvaDeer Mar 19, 2024
Burnt Caregiver just asked me why I recommend ER to people so readily.

Basically, THIS.
We are unable to get care any more.

It is criminal that there are no results on an MRI done in November.
If you are MPOA you need to go to both the neurologist's office and the referring MD office to find out what is happening here.

And whatever you have to do, you must have a good neuro-psyc exam.
I am so sorry. These stories are more and more common. The squeaking wheel gets the oil. Tell them anything. Tell them your best friend works for a local news station and ask how they would like to be front page news about the inability to have results of an MRI done 5 months ago.

I honestly don't know what to tell anyone about our medical system anymore.

Geaton777 Mar 19, 2024
I would campaign with primary doc to continue to discount all other non-neuro causes (while waiting for current MRI to br reviewed). Blood work? Stroke? HBP, UTI, Dehydration, copd, etc...
Dinisha2024 Mar 20, 2024
I would have thought he would have done that. It’s as if we have tell them how to do their jobs.

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JoAnn29 Mar 19, 2024
Medicare you can go to any doctor you want as long as they except Medicare. Suppliments usually pay their share with no problem. Your problem comes when you have another insurance. Most health insurance policy require a referral. So yes, you need to call Tricare.
Geaton777 Mar 19, 2024
She's 54 so no Medicare yet.
strugglinson Mar 19, 2024
its possible some neurologists will take a new patient without a referral. You could get the list of neurologists covered on Tricare and call a few.

brandee Mar 19, 2024
At age 54 I'd consult with 2 or 3 neurologists for second and third opinions. This is an exceptionally young age for cognitive decline.

BarbBrooklyn Mar 19, 2024
If mom has Tricare, I would start by calling their nurse line: https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/2878187/need-health-advice-at-home-chat-with-a-nurse-247#:~:text=You%20can%20call%20and%20speak,web%20chat%20and%20video%20chat.

Can mom's doctor see the MRI results? If not, I would send/fax/mail them to her/him and ask what next steps should be.

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